The Wilder Cos. to break ground Jan. 23 on two projects

Orlando Business Journal - January 18, 2007
The Wilder Cos. late Wednesday announced groundbreakings on Jan. 23 for the Loop West open-air shopping center in Kissimmee and The Rialto mixed-use development in south Orlando.

Loop West will feature a 400,000-square-foot lifestyle center on 47 acres at Osceola Parkway and Thacker Avenue. The center is expected to have more than 40 tenants, including Belk, J.C. Penney, Kohl's, Regal Cinemas, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Michael's, Sports Authority, Sunglass Hut, Panera Bread and Johnny Rockets.

The stores are scheduled to open in spring 2008. The project is an expansion of The Wilder Cos.' existing 440,000-square-foot The Loop lifestyle center, which opened in May 2005.

The Rialto, meanwhile, is a 350,000-square-foot center with retail, office condos and a 200-unit luxury condo complex, the Intermezzo at The Rialto.

The project, being developed on 13 acres on Sand Lake Road west of the Interstate 4 exit, will include about 20 stores, fine-dining restaurants and cafes, as well as 48,000 square feet of office space.

Several retailers new to the Central Florida market will be tenants at this center, including wine retailer Cork & Olive, Chicago-based restaurant Bar Louie, upscale seafood restaurant Blue Coral Seafood & Spirits, J. Alexander's restaurant and Italian modern kitchen cabinet maker Veneta Cucine.

Boston-based The Wilder Cos. develops retail properties and has a portfolio of more than 35 owned and managed properties in the U.S. and another 4 million square feet under development.